Moon's Ramadan

Moon celebrates with Muslims of different cultures, skin tones, ages, body types, and abilities actively engaged in evening activities of Ramadan, including good deeds and charity. Women are depicted with and without hijab, in various styles including niqab, while young girls are not portrayed wearing headscarves. The illustrations, an inviting blend of scanned watercolor textures and digital pencil, are in evening tones of blue and purple and portray culturally specific clothing and food, while endpapers are a pattern of repeated moon phases.

PreS-Gr 3--The moon is personified as a delighted individual peeking in around the world as different Islamic cultures celebrate Ramadan and Eid. Because the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, as the author shares in the back matter, this is a clever way of moving from one country to another, while still having a consistent presence throughout the story and emphasizing the importance of the phases of the moon. The use of alliteration creates a musical quality to the text, which incorporates words specific to the celebration, including Iftar and sadaqah. The use of these words will create a curiosity about traditions that are less familiar to some readers, but the text will also generate joy and connection for children who know the practices. Kazi uses predominantly blue and purple illustrations to show the differing dress, food, and environments in which families celebrate. VERDICT A delightful read that teaches students about Ramadan and emphasizes the diversity in the Islamic world. This book will definitely be a go-to for librarians and teachers who want to expand awareness of Ramadan.--Peggy Henderson Murphy

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

What a stunning debut book from Natasha Khan Kazi! Kazi's lines are lyrical, and as magical as the moon art she has created...The art is dreamy and has hues like the purple veil of twilight that will encourage readers to linger over the pages. I loved how the Moon looks on Earth, and each page travels to a different and beautiful part of the world celebrating Ramadan. This story felt like a cozy hug from the Moon! For teachers, this book is a must-have. Muslim children will feel pride to see themselves reflected back in these stunning pages. — Reem Faruqi, author of Unsettled and Golden Girl